Surface Engineering Solid State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Lead Research Organisation: Swansea University
Department Name: College of Engineering

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description We are working on how molecules arrange themselves on surfaces to make more efficient solar harvesting devices. We have been able to link computational work with experimental data and to use this information to design better molecules which work together in tandem.
Key findings to date include (i) design links between computational modelling and experiment, (ii) discovery of lower cost components (e.g. hole transport materials) which are as efficient as spiro-OMeTAD but at a fraction of the cost, (iii) low energy processing (e.g. low temperature sintering of metal oxide scaffolds and low temperature platinization of counter electrodes), (iv) device optimisation (e.g. controlled light harvesting with dye-perovskite combinations), (v) control of scaled manufacturing (e.g. spectral response mapping of co-sensitized devices), (vi) scaled stability testing and enhanced lifetimes (e.g. digital imaging/analysis), novel understanding of dye orientation on titania surfaces being horizontal rather than perpendicular to the surface.

the funding of this grant directly underpins research being undertaken at SPECIFIC and other members of the 'Materials Cluster' at Swansea.
Exploitation Route the outcomes of this funding are already being put to use by others in the way that it underpins a significant research area within the group of projects associated with the Materials led cluster at Swansea University
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Construction,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology
 
Description We have run several outreach events to publicise the importance of solar energy in north and south Wales. These outreach events have included the widest possible age range of attendees; from toddlers to those >80 years old. We have also run outreach events with local schools including junior schools, upper schools and sixth form students. We also ran a series of events at a local college for adults with special educational needs. The college had never had a science curriculum before and we ran a series of events related to renewable energy.
First Year Of Impact 2019
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Energy,Environment
Impact Types Cultural,Societal
 
Description Designing and processing low cost materials to surface engineer solar cells - Professor Peter Holliman 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Invited talk at conference which led to potential future collaboration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk at Computational Chemistry: Solar Cell Materials by Prof Peter Holliman 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Outreach workshop to 6th form students at STFC Daresbury open day event
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017